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A few weeks ago, I reported on my paddle around the headwaters of the South River. I saw lots of yellow perch egg strands, but saw no evidence of active fish moving about.
I know that the carp congregate in this area typically in early May. With the recent warm temperatures, I was curious to see if they had started way early. I launched at the Rt 450 bridge about 3:00 pm this afternoon. The water level was higher than it was on my previous visit, but was still pretty shallow -- I scraped bottom several times. I explored a variety of spots, including the broad open area just downstream of the Rt 50 bridge.
The carp were not yet staged like they are in spawning season. I did see occasional swirls and even a few silvery 6"-10" fish jumping. They did not look like white perch, but had a more slender profile. I was unable to identify them. I did see two or three dead small carp floating on the surface. I slow trolled two ultralight rods with small lures looking for yellow or white perch -- a 1/8-oz jighead with a 2" chartreuse twister tail on one rod and a 3" silver and blue Rattletrap on the second line. Neither rod was touched. I was almost done for the day but decided to take a few casts with the jighead and twister tail.
All of a sudden, the lure stopped -- I thought I had snagged a branch. Then the line took off in the opposite direction pulling hard against the drag. I tightened the drag a notch, but that did not slow down the fish. I kept pressure on the fish, and by palming the spool while raising the rod tip, I was able to gain back a few feet at a time. I expected that I had foul-hooked a carp. To my surprise, when the fish surfaced I realized that I had hooked a fat, energetic rockfish. I had no measuring devices onboard but estimate that it was in the 20" range and very beefy.
I was able to get it in the boat and hold it still to remove the hook and get two photos. That fish not only kept the skunk at bay, but gave me a great thrill at the end of my trip. In retrospect, I realized that I had two other times a few minutes earlier when I hooked onto something that stopped my lure retrieve, but then let go. I had assumed that I had snagged something, but now I think I had hooked large fish those times too.
By this time, I had exceeded my butt-tolerance time limit for my older kayak - OK Drifter. I tried a few more casts without any action, then paddled for the car.
I know that the carp congregate in this area typically in early May. With the recent warm temperatures, I was curious to see if they had started way early. I launched at the Rt 450 bridge about 3:00 pm this afternoon. The water level was higher than it was on my previous visit, but was still pretty shallow -- I scraped bottom several times. I explored a variety of spots, including the broad open area just downstream of the Rt 50 bridge.
The carp were not yet staged like they are in spawning season. I did see occasional swirls and even a few silvery 6"-10" fish jumping. They did not look like white perch, but had a more slender profile. I was unable to identify them. I did see two or three dead small carp floating on the surface. I slow trolled two ultralight rods with small lures looking for yellow or white perch -- a 1/8-oz jighead with a 2" chartreuse twister tail on one rod and a 3" silver and blue Rattletrap on the second line. Neither rod was touched. I was almost done for the day but decided to take a few casts with the jighead and twister tail.
All of a sudden, the lure stopped -- I thought I had snagged a branch. Then the line took off in the opposite direction pulling hard against the drag. I tightened the drag a notch, but that did not slow down the fish. I kept pressure on the fish, and by palming the spool while raising the rod tip, I was able to gain back a few feet at a time. I expected that I had foul-hooked a carp. To my surprise, when the fish surfaced I realized that I had hooked a fat, energetic rockfish. I had no measuring devices onboard but estimate that it was in the 20" range and very beefy.
I was able to get it in the boat and hold it still to remove the hook and get two photos. That fish not only kept the skunk at bay, but gave me a great thrill at the end of my trip. In retrospect, I realized that I had two other times a few minutes earlier when I hooked onto something that stopped my lure retrieve, but then let go. I had assumed that I had snagged something, but now I think I had hooked large fish those times too.
By this time, I had exceeded my butt-tolerance time limit for my older kayak - OK Drifter. I tried a few more casts without any action, then paddled for the car.
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